Electromagnetic drive for an add-subtract-decade-counter

ABSTRACT

AN ELECTROMAGNETIC DRIVE FOR AN ADD-SUBTRACT DECADE COUNTER COMPRISES AN ELECTROMAGNETIC ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED COILS. AN ARMATURE IS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED BETWEEN THE COILS AND IS MOVABLE LATERALLY TOWARD WHICHEVER COIL IS ENERGIZED. THE ARMATURE PIVOTS AN ESCAPEMENT ARRANGED TO TURN A DECADE COUNTER WHEEL IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS FOR ADDING OR SUBTRACTING. THE PRESENT INVENTION RELATES TO AN ELECTROMAGNETIC DRIVE FOR DECADE COUNTERS EMPLOYING A STEPPING DEVICE ARRANGED TO TURN TO COUNTERS EITHER ONE OF TWO DIRECTIONS FOR ADDING AND SUBTRACTING.

United States Patent [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS [72] Inventors Reinhard Jurgen Joachim Walter;

Roland Helbig, Aldingen, Germany 734,010

[21] Appl. No.

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Aldingen, Germany [32] Priority June 5, 1967 Primary ExaminerMaynard R. Wilbur [33] Ge man Assistant Examiner.loseph M. Thesz, Jr.

[31 1 11-62924 Attorney-Polachek & Saulsbury ABSTRACT: An electromagnetic drive for an add-subtract decade counter comprises an electromagnetic assembly including a pair of laterally spaced coils. An armature is pivotally mounted between the coils and is movable laterally [54] R AN toward whichever coil is energized. The armature pivots an 4 claims 2 Draw Figs escapement arranged to turn a decade counter wheel in opposite directions for adding or subtracting. [52] US. CI...

The present invention relates to an electromagnetic drive for decade counters employing a stepping device arranged to turn the counters either one of two directions for adding and subtracting.

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PATENTED JUN28 Ian 8, 588,458

SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTORS 1 Rem/lard Jzirqcn, dad ch/m Wa/ferflfiolmdlldbig ELECTROMAGNETIC DRIVE FOR AN ADD-SUBTRACT- DECADE-COUNTER It is the object of the invention to provide an electromagnetic drive for decade counters with spaced magnetic coils arranged for receiving electric pulses and causing an adding or a subtracting counting step by the counter depending upon which coil is energized. The electromagnetic drive according to the invention has a pivotable armature moved to one side or another depending on which coil is energized. The armature engages with an escapement held under spring load in a central position and tiltable by the armature operation by means of a slot-pin coupling whereby it actuates a counter drive wheel. The escapement is adjacent to the drive wheel and carries at each end two drive cams each of which fix the position of the drive wheel in the central position of the armature. The cams perform a tilting movement to turn drive wheel by engaging and disengaging pins on the drive wheel. By the use of the escapement according to the invention the armature which is made of magnetic material may be made smaller and lighter than in armature drives for stepping decade counters as known up to now, so that a faster counting rate becomes possible. By means of the coupling between the armature and the escapement a smaller armature way is possible, which has likewise a favourable effect on the counting rate. Furthermore the bearing of the armature is according to the invention located between the magnetic coils so that a shorter armature is obtained as compared with the known annature drive counters of comparable counting rate.

Further details of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawing in which;

FIGS. 1 and 2 respectively show a plan view and a central section through an electromagnetic drive for decade counters according to the invention.

As shown in the drawings, magnetic poles 2 and 3 are arranged in the yoke of the frame magnet. Two exterior frame legs carry laterally spaced magnetic coils 4 and 5, the magnetic circuit includes a connection takes place on the common central leg 7 supporting armature bearing 6. The armature 8 is mounted between the two chamfered magnetic poles 2 and 3 for rotational lateral deviation if either one of the two magnetic coils is energized. The armature engages a symmetrical rockable escapement 9 by means of a pin and slot coupling 10. The escapement 9 is disposed adjacent to rotatable counter drive wheel 1 1 and carries at both ends two drive earns 12 and 13 each, which fix the position of the wheel in the central position of the armature and turn the drive wheel ll clockwise or counterclockwise by disengagement and engagement with pins 14 circumferentially spaced on wheel drive 11. The escapement has pins 15, 16 at both ends engaging a V-shaped leaf spring 17 which is disposed with its apical angle on a fixed pivot point 18. Ends of the spring engage rotatable eccentric pins 19, 20. These supporting pins for the spring legs can be turned for adjusting the angular position of the spring with respect to the escapement and armature. The armature bearing 6 pivotally engages one end of the armature and is mounted between the two magnetic coils 4, on central leg 7 near the magnetic poles 2, 3. The escapement 9 is arranged in engagement with the outer end of the armature 8.

The stepping-on of the counter drive wheel 11 by a step takes place by energizing one of coils 4, 5, for example, the left-hand magnet coil 4, by a current pulse. The armature 8 and escapement 9 are then swung in coordination towards the left and the right hand drive cam 13 acts on a pin 14 of drive wheel 11 in order to turn it counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 1. This may cause an adding movement of the counter. After the end of the pulse applied to coil 4, the armature 8 returns under spring load to its normal central position shown in FIG. 1 and the escapement 9 pivots correspondingly. The drive cam 12 mounted on the top right end of the escapement 9 acts on the pins 14 of counter drive wheel 11 to effect a second step. This operation is exactly opposite from the one just described if the other magnetic coil 5 is energized.

Because of the symmetrical configuration, a steppin of the counter drive wheel 11 takes place clockwise to e ect subtraction by the counter.

The arrangement of spring 17 and its V-shaped configuration keeps the escapement 9 elastically in the central position. This is done by the support of spring 17 on pivot point 18 of the escapement 9 and by its engagement under tension with pins 15 and 16 on the escapement. Both spring extremities rest on stationary pins 19, 20 respectively on the casing of the assembly. Pins 19, 20 are eccentrically mounted and can be turned to adjust the position of the spring. This arrangement makes it possible to use just one pretensioned spring to effect return of the escapement and armature to center position from deflection in either direction.

- It is also possible to provide this electromagnetic drive for decade counters with contacts for decade transfer and for zero-setting. The arrangement of the contacts for decade transfer will be such that corresponding to the stepping direction, adding or subtracting, stepping pulses are also sent to the corresponding pulse input of a following adding/subtracting decade.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that i do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. An electromagnetic drive for an add-subtract decade counter, comprising an electromagnetic assembly comprising a pair of laterally spaced coils; and armature pivotably mounted between the coils and movable laterally toward either one of the coils depending on which coil is energized; a pivotally mounted escapement engaged by said armature to pivot in either one of two directions in coordination with the armature when the armature pivots; spring means holding said escapement and armature in a normally centered position with respect to said coils; and a rotatable counter drive wheel having a plurality of drive pins engageable by said escapement to turn the drive wheel in one direction to effect adding by the counter and to turn the drive wheel in an opposite direction to effect subtracting by the counter depending on which coil is energized to pivot the armature and escapement against tension in said spring means.

2. An electromagnetic drive as defined in claim 1, wherein said escapement carries two pairs of cams, one pair of cams being located at each end of the escapement, said cams being arranged to engage and disengage the pins on the drive wheel each time the escapement is pivoted to turn the drive wheel in either direction.

3. An electromagnetic drive as defined in claim 2, wherein said spring means comprises a leaf spring supported in a V- shaped configuration with its apex engaging the escapement to hold it in said centered position.

4. An electromagnetic drive as defined in claim 3, further comprising rotatable eccentric pins supporting ends of the spring so that rotation of the eccentric pins adjusts the angular position of said spring with respect to the escapement. 

